We will try to achieve the best possible result, in the Holy Synod on Tuesday, so that the faithful are not deprived of the opportunity to go to church and commune on the holy days of Christmas, says in today's circular the Metropolitan of Limassol Athanasios.
Addressing the holy clergy of the Diocese, the Metropolitan of Limassol states that he understands and shares the grief for the closure of the churches, just 11 days after they reopened, but also their pastoral anxiety for the way of managing this unprecedented situation.
As nine months have passed since the pandemic in our country, says the Metropolitan of Limassol, "we all feel tired and frustrated and we are all anxious about the long-term consequences of this ordeal."
The only consolation and refuge, he adds, is the All-Holy God and the Holy Church, and he points out that "while our temples should remain open and the faithful should be able to observe the measures required by the state of emergency in which we live - to attend church, to commune, to confess, to receive the holy grace of the Church, our state imposes the performance of the Holy Communions without the presence of believers, something that is essentially equivalent to the closing of the temples ".
The Metropolitan of Limassol in his circular notes that everyone has an inalienable democratic right to express in a decent way their disagreement with the specific decisions of the state and that this will be done "in the right and appropriate way".
Reminding that the issue will be brought before the Holy Synod on Tuesday, Metropolitan Athanasios states that "we will try to achieve the best possible result, so that the faithful are not deprived of the opportunity to go to church and commune during the holy days of Christmas."
Finally, he urges the priests "in fervent prayer, that the tragic ordeal we are experiencing be shortened and that we claim as soon as possible to live again without obstacles and restrictions, the worship and sacramental life of our Holy Church".